Andreas Deja facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andreas Deja
|
|
|---|---|
At the 35th Annie Awards in 2006
|
|
| Born | 1 April 1957 Gdańsk, Poland
|
| Occupation | Animator |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Employer | Walt Disney Animation Studios (1981–2011) |
| Awards | Winsor McCay Award, 2006 Disney Legends, 2015 |
Andreas Deja (born April 1, 1957) is a Polish-born German-American artist famous for animating some of Disney's most memorable characters. He worked for Walt Disney Animation Studios for over 30 years.
Deja was the main animator, called a supervising animator, for many famous Disney characters. He brought to life iconic villains like Gaston in Beauty and the Beast, Jafar in Aladdin, and Scar in The Lion King. He also animated heroes like the title character in Hercules, and other beloved characters like Lilo Pelekai in Lilo & Stitch and Tigger in Winnie the Pooh.
Contents
A Childhood Dream
When Andreas Deja was 11 years old, he saw Disney's The Jungle Book and knew he wanted to become an animator. He immediately wrote a letter to Walt Disney Productions to tell them about his dream.
The studio sent him a letter back, which he has kept his whole life. The letter advised him not to just copy characters like Mickey Mouse. Instead, it told him to become a true artist by observing the world. It said, "Draw your brothers and sisters. Go to the zoo. Sketch the animals a lot." Deja took this advice very seriously and worked hard to improve his art skills.
After finishing high school in Dinslaken, Germany, he studied graphic design at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen.
Career at Disney
Deja's dream came true in August 1980 when he was hired by Disney. He had been writing to Eric Larson, one of Disney's legendary animators known as the "Nine Old Men." Larson was in charge of training new artists at the studio. The first movie Deja worked on was The Black Cauldron. During this time, he shared an office with Tim Burton, who would later become a famous film director.
Even though most of the "Nine Old Men" had already retired, Deja looked for them to learn as much as he could. These were the master animators who had worked with Walt Disney himself. Deja has spent years collecting stories and information about them and hopes to publish books about their work.
Animating Famous Characters
Deja became known for being the supervising animator for some of Disney's greatest villains. A supervising animator is in charge of the overall design and animation of a specific character. His work includes:
- Gaston in Beauty and the Beast
- Jafar in Aladdin
- Scar in The Lion King
- Queen Narissa in Enchanted
But he didn't just animate villains. He also worked on many other famous characters:
- Roger Rabbit in Who Framed Roger Rabbit
- King Triton in The Little Mermaid
- Hercules in Hercules
- Lilo Pelekai in Lilo & Stitch
- Mama Odie in The Princess and the Frog
- Tigger in Winnie the Pooh
Deja is also considered the go-to expert for animating Mickey Mouse today.
Recent Work
In 2011, Deja started a blog where he shares his love for classic animation. He often posts drawings and stories about the early Disney animators who inspired him.
In 2015, he wrote a book called The Nine Old Men: Lessons, Techniques, and Inspiration from Disney's Great Animators. The book shares what he learned from the legendary animators.
Deja also directed his own animated short film called Mushka, which was released in 2023. He was also the guest curator for a special exhibition at The Walt Disney Family Museum in 2022. The exhibition celebrated the 55th anniversary of The Jungle Book, the film that first inspired him.
Awards and Recognition
- In 2006, Deja received the Winsor McCay Award for his amazing contributions to animation.
- In 2015, he was named a Disney Legend, one of the highest honors given by The Walt Disney Company.
See also
In Spanish: Andreas Deja para niños
